Celebrating the 230th Anniversary of the Belfast Harpers' Assembly
Showcasing harpers from all over Ireland in concerts, workshops and talks
Coirmcheoil agus ceardlanna ag ceiliúradh cruitirí den scoth ó cheann ceann na tíre
Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin is a major collaborative festival between a number of societies, Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland and Reclaim the Enlightenment taking the lead to mark the 230th anniversary of the assembly of harpers in Belfast in 1792 and to celebrate the work of the renowned organist and collector, Edward Bunting, who played such a major part in the preservation of their music.
The historic significance of the 1792 Belfast Harpers’ Assembly is not to be underestimated. It was led by the upper echelon of cultural leadership in Belfast, who united to stimulate public interest in what they deemed to be a tradition at risk.
Its purpose was to revive an interest in harp music and to collect the music of the harpers and note their style of playing for future generations.
Harps Alive will bring together harpers from all over Ireland to assess Edward Bunting’s legacy, showcase the harpers’ music, and bring a contemporary spotlight to bear on current developments to safeguard harping as a living tradition in Ireland.
The main Harps Alive festival will be held in Belfast, July 15-17th 2022. A prelude to the main programme will be a celebration of the life and music of Denis Hempson, which will be held on the north coast on the preceding weekend of 9th of July.
Events will conclude at the grave of Edward Bunting in Mount Jerome in Dublin on the weekend of 23-24 July in acknowledgement of his key role as a major collector, the transcriber of the music played in 1792 and conserver of the harping tradition.
2022 Festival Events
A Tribute to harper Denis Hempson
Sat, 9 Jul 2022 | 3pm
St Aidan's Church, Magilligan
Denis Hempson, the Harper and his Legacy
Sat, 9 Jul 2022 | 5pm
Mussenden Temple, Castlerock
Fri, 15 Jul 2022 | 6pm
Linen Hall Library, Belfast
Exhibition of materials from Linenhall Library
15th, 16th & 17th Jul 2022
Linen Hall Library, Belfast
Booking not essential
Strike up the Harp: Lauren O'Neill and Eugene McKenna
Fri, 15 Jul 2022 | 8pm
The Deer's Head, Belfast
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 10am
Shankill Road Library, Belfast
2022 Festival Events
Harps are Fun: Children's workshop with Sharon Carroll
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 10am
Turas, Belfast
Denis Hempson: the Harper and his Legacy
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 12pm
First Presbyterian Church, Belfast
Northern Stars: Meet three shining lights of Irish Harping
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 1pm
First Presbyterian Church, Belfast
The Manifestation: Belfast Harpers Assembly Gathering
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 2.30pm
The Assembly Rooms, Belfast
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 3.30pm
Clifton House, Belfast
Sat, 16 Jul 2022 | 8pm
First Presbyterian Church, Belfast
2022 Festival Events
Sun, 17 Jul 2022 | 12pm
An Culturlann, Belfast
Sun, 17 Jul 2022 | 1pm
An Culturlann, Belfast
Workshop - Taking the Tune: 3 tunes to go
Sun, 17 Jul 2022 | 12pm
St Joseph's Church, Sailortown, Belfast
Concert - Harp Moments: Sharing our Harp Music
Sun, 17 Jul 2022 | 1pm
St Joseph's Church, Sailortown, Belfast
Sun, 17 Jul 2022 | 2pm
Duncairn Arts, Belfast
Sun, 17 Jul 2022 | 8pm
St Joseph's Church, Sailortown, Belfast
Edward Bunting: The Dublin Connection
Sun, 24 Jul 2022 | 1pm
Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
Sun, 24 Jul 2022 | 3pm
Mount Jerome, Dublin
Check out the full 2022 programme
Over 50 harpers will take to the stage throughout July as part of the 2022 Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin festival.
Festival news
Harpers and historians will join forces in July to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the Belfast Harpers’ Assembly with five days of music and heritage in a unique cross-community series of events.
Harps Alive Festival To Celebrate The Life & Times Of Denis Hempson At Mussenden Temple Next Week
Commemorating Denis Hempson, one of the greatest Irish traditional harpers, a live performance dedicated to his life and priceless legacy will open the Harps Alive/An Chruit Bheo/Harps Leevin festival 2022 on July 9.
All-Island Harps Alive Festival To Culminate In Dublin Commemoration Of Life Of Prolific Musician Edward Bunting
Harpers and historians will join forces this month to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the first Harpers’ Assembly with five days of music and heritage in a unique cross-community series of events, concluding in Dublin.
Tá An Chruit Bheo, féile chun stair na cruitireachta in Éirinn a chomóradh, ag teacht go Béal Feirste i mí Iúil na bliana seo.
Tiocfaidh cruitirí agus staraithe le chéile an mhí seo chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar chomóradh 230 bliain ó bhí an chéad Tionól Cruitirí ann.
Three young Causeway harpers will be taking to the stage this weekend for the Harps Alive/An Chruit Bheo/Harps Leevin 2022 festival. Mollie Flack (14), Phoebe Kelly (14) and Hannah Thompson (12), are students of renowned harper Katy Bustard.
Dublin-native Anne-Marie O’Farrell will be taking to the stage this weekend as one of the many harpers due to perform at the Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin festival Gala Finale Concert.
With thanks to:
Our partners:
Festival contacts
Reclaim the Enlightenment
Stephen McCracken
07842809873 | stmccracken@hotmail.com
Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland
Eithne Benson
eithne.benson@harpireland.ie
Media & PR enquiries
Tina Calder, Excalibur Press
07305354209 | tina@excaliburpress.co.uk